Hearing Tests
Western uses the latest, state of the art equipment to evaluate your hearing. These comprehensive hearing tests measure hearing loss and assist in determining your hearing healthcare needs.
What should you expect at a hearing test?
Have comfort in knowing there is no pain involved with a hearing test! We will first conduct a case history interview as part of the intake process to gather information relating to your hearing health and may inquire about other health information that may effect your hearing. Some questions you may expect are: when you first noticed our hearing loss, have you been exposed to hazardous noise, does anyone in your family have hearing loss, whether you hear better with one ear or the other, and if you experience tinnitus (sounds in your ears).
We will begin with a special instrument called an otoscope this allows us to check the condition of the ear canal and eardrum. After the physical examination, your hearing is tested. This takes place in a special sound-treated booth.
The first test is a pure tone test. This tests your ability to hear a number of different pure tones using a pair of soundproof headphones. In some cases, we will carry out a bone conduction test to measure your ability to hear pure tones, by placing a small bone conductor behind your ear. The bone conduction test will reveal if there is a problem in the middle ear cavity.
Next, we will test your ability to understand speech. The speech test investigates whether there could be problems with the auditory nerve which sends signals from the ear to the brain or whether there could be problems understanding speech and sounds in the brain itself.
The results of these tests are presented in an audiogram, which will show the type and degree of your hearing and whether you may benefit from hearing aids, if you are diagnosed with hearing loss. Once we have your results we will review these with you answering questions and explaining your options.
Hearing Solutions
Although hearing aids do not restore hearing back to normal, they do help with the quality of sound and increase understanding. The technology of amplification has improved dramatically in the last few years. With improved cosmetics and more advanced technology, we can now provide a clearer sound and better comprehension in noise. We offer digital hearing aids from a variety of manufacturers in both behind the ear and in the ear models.
Western Hearing Aid Center provides options for those who prefer good sound quality in an affordable hearing aid to those who prefer the highest level of technology. Contact us today!
